Please note that all candidates should adhere to CTBTO Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity.
Qualified female applicants and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
A roster of suitable candidates may be established for similar positions at the same level as a result of this selection process for a period of two (2) years.
Organizational Background
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization with its headquarters in Vienna, Austria is the international organization setting up the global verification system foreseen under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which is the treaty banning any nuclear-weapon-test explosion or any other nuclear explosion. The Treaty provides for a global verification regime, including a network of 337 stations worldwide, a communications system, an international data centre and on-site inspections to monitor compliance.
Organizational Setting
This position is located in the Public Information Section, Legal and External Relations Division, LEG/PI.
Reporting Lines
Under the supervision of the Chief, Public Information Section, to:
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead the strategy, planning, development, and implementation of large and complex communications campaigns; collaborate cross-functionally with CTBTO divisions to incorporate the campaigns into all relevant events and products;
Provide advice and expertise to managers, senior officers, and public information staff on a range of public affairs issues, methods, and approaches; anticipate and resolve issues related to communications/public relations when required;
Identify, plan, and oversee the production of a variety of media outreach and public information materials for distribution to target audiences, including news and feature articles, brochures, displays, presentations, video and audio and social media products with the objective of promoting greater public understanding and support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, its verification regime and the work of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission among States, civil society, the media and the general public;
Initiate and produce multimedia packages for TV and radio broadcasters and online platforms, including production of b-roll and packages, short documentaries and video clips for social media and the CTBTO website; plan resources and undertake research, make recommendations on appropriate platform and target audience, prepare production plans and scripts, and liaise with external contractors;
Contribute to strengthening the CTBTO’s social media presence, including planning and implementing social media campaigns, producing simple graphics, analyzing engagement and other key metrics, and identifying possible improvements;
Undertake activities to promote media coverage of priority issues and/or major events, including development of a media strategy and action plan, pro-active media outreach efforts, proposing and arranging press conferences/media coverage, disseminating materials and consulting with press on information requests, analyzing and reporting on the impact of coverage;
Maintain effective working relationships and communication channels with national and international media, including placing stories, op-eds and multimedia products, coordinating interviews and ensuring prompt and accurate responses to media queries on sometimes sensitive issues, under the guidance of the Chief and liaising with other areas of the Secretariat and the wider United Nations as appropriate;
Ensure that responses to direct or indirect requests for information about the work of the Organization are replied to promptly and correctly and that such replies promote better understanding of the Organization’s objectives and activities; ensure accuracy, objectivity and impartiality of the responses and the outreach activities and products;
Contribute to the strategic and creative thinking of the Section on multimedia, social media, media relations and other public information activities, and to their overall effectiveness; keep abreast of developments in the field;
Participate in coordination of substantive and administrative activities of the Section, interpreting and disseminating policy, providing procedural advice, improving reporting systems, handling operational and administrative queries, preparing budget submissions, establishing and/or coordinating training programmes and monitoring and evaluating results;
Supervise, more junior staff and/or mentor and supervise work on specific projects;
Perform other duties as assigned.
Education
Advanced university degree in communication, journalism, public or international relations or a related field;
Work Experience and Qualifications
At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of public information or public relations, of which at least three years should have been in an international environment;
Excellent professional communication skills, including strong experience of producing social media assets and multimedia materials, and very good understanding of strategic media engagement;
Experience in managing corporate social media accounts is required;
Experience in developing and implementing social media campaigns is required;
Experience in web design and/or graphic design is an asset;
Demonstrated capability in managing teams in a multicultural environment is required;
Ability to work with utmost discretion, tact, and excellent judgement in handling communication challenges and politically sensitive information;
Languages
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential;
Knowledge of other official CTBTO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is desirable.
Competencies
Professionalism – Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations;
Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from other and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
Planning and organizing – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
Team work – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; builds consensus for task purpose and direction with team members; supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings;
Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable;
Creativity – Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches;
Client orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive relationships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress and setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients;
Commitment to continuous learning – Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve;
Technological Awareness – Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks, shows willingness to learn new technology.
Managerial Competencies
Leadership – Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.
Vision – Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.
Empowering Others – Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.
Building Trust – Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to others; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
Managing Performance – Delegates appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
Judgment/Decision Making – Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Remuneration
CTBTO offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in accordance with the policies of the International Civil Service Commission. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, see link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm). The salary offered may be subject to deductions to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and/or Health Insurance Scheme.
Additional Information
All applications must be submitted through the CTBTO e-Recruitment system before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
Incomplete applications and submission of employment history in formats other than the CTBTO Employment Information Form will not be considered
The CTBTO Preparatory Commission retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy; to make an appointment at a lower grade in particular if the candidate has less than the qualifications required; to make an appointment with a modified job description, or to offer a contract term for a shorter duration than indicated in the vacancy announcement.
Please note that the CTBTO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list.
The CTBTO reserves the right to undertake correspondence only with shortlisted candidates.
Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process.
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